Music Commons^™

Original Composition For The Byu Symphonic Band, Garrett Breeze, Dr. Kirt Saville

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The goal of this project was to gain hands on experience by composing an original piece for the BYU Symphonic Band. There are currently no composition courses taught at BYU focusing on Concert Band literature; and because of the large volume of existing work by established, respected composers, and the small space available on a concert program, opportunities for a young composer to have his work read of performed by a large ensemble such as the Symphonic Band are extremely limited. This makes it difficult to really learn the craft of writing for such a large ensemble because in music …

An Analysis Of Vocal Development Principles And Practices In Hungarian Music Education, Catherine Golding, Jerry Jaccard

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In this study, we were able to further the music education research in Hungary that Dr. Jerry Jaccard has been implementing for many years. Hungary has one of the most sophisticated and successful music education systems in the world. My research group and I will be using this information we found to improve our music education system in the United States. We each had a specific area of research. I focused on the effect of physical movement on vocal development. In Hungary, they use the Kodaly Music Education System. In the United States, we use a modified version of it. …

An Analysis Of Choral Development Practices In Hungarian Music Education, Karissa Baker, Jerry Jaccard

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For my ORCA research project, I spent two weeks in Hungary studying the Hungarian music education system, with a particular emphasis on choral development. From May 4 through May 18, I traveled with my faculty mentor, Jerry Jaccard, and three other student researchers: Catherine Golding, Bethany Richards, and Christy Ripa. We divided our time in Hungary between the cities of Budapest, Kecskement, Debrecen, and Nyiregyhaza, observing music classes and private lessons, interviewing conductors, teachers, and school administrators, and attending musical performances. In so doing, we were exposed to many practices, philosophies, and ideas that will inform our future teaching as …

Hungary’S Undeniable Success In Music Education: An Analysis Of Public And Private Teaching Principles And Practices In Hungarian Music Education, Bethany Richards, Jerry Jaccard

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my trip to Hungary was to observe and analyze the Hungarian music education system, realize its strengths, and adapt what I learned into my teaching here in America. My specific research assignment was to investigate the relationship between private and public music lessons and how by working together they can be most effective.

Essential Oboe Repair, Jordan Hatch, Dr. Geralyn Giovannettii

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Oboists face many problems relating to the mechanism of their instruments that render them unplayable. These problems occur frequently due to routine use. Fortunately, solutions exist, but few people know how to apply them. With sufficient knowledge and experience, most of these problems could be resolved quickly and inexpensively. The purpose of this project was (1) to research and learn oboe repair and (2) to teach local oboists about repairs they can do themselves. Repairs that I studied were mechanism adjustments, crack prevention, octave vent cleaning, bumper cork replacement, pad replacement, and tenon cork replacement.

An Analysis Of Music Specialist Principles And Practices In Hungarian Music Education, Christy Ripa, Jerry Jaccard

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Contrary to what I expected when our team arrived in Budapest, Hungary, I found that it was not much different from our American cities. While they are speaking a different language and have different cultural expectations and norms, they wear modern clothes and live modern lives with indoor plumbing, electricity, public transportation, and the like. The story is not the same, however, for the small villages that are scattered across the Hungarian countryside. These small villages that are nearly forgotten are where their musical folk traditions live on. Sadly, because we only had two weeks to spend in Hungary, my …

Manuel M. Ponce, Sayda Desiree Gonzalez, Dr. Jeffrey Shumway

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I have enjoyed the research process of for my project “Manuel M. Ponce” so much! Not only have I gained valuable knowledge, but also, I have made new friends and connections in the world of music in Mexico.

Classical Singer University Vocal Competition, Dr. Diane Reich

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The annual convention of Classical Singer, a premier trade journal for singers and singing teachers, began in 2009 to hold a competition for university students. This is strictly for classical singers age 18-25, who are training and aspiring to become professional singers.

New York City Wisit For Wocal Students, Dr. Darrell Babidge

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objectives of this important visit to New York City was to expose students to the opportunities that can be found by working with the highest caliber of vocal artists and coaches in the world. They also auditioned for national opera companies that were in town the week we were there. Through this intensive week of auditions and coachings, they learned to hone their vocal and auditioning skills to a higher level.

New York City Vocal Workshops And Orientation, Dr. Darrell Babidge

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objectives of this important visit to New York City was to expose students to the opportunities that can be found by working with the highest caliber of vocal artists and coaches in the world. In addition they were to audition/interview for national opera companies that were in town the week we were there. Through this visit they would learn to hone their vocal and auditioning skills to a higher level.

The Blessed Circle And Tales Of Woe, Susan Pickett

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

A history of woman composers: The comprehensive history of music, revered as “The Grout,” fails to mention woman composers. Since 3000 B.C., over 6000 woman have composed alongside male colleagues; their work is largely neglected. There is a black hole of female composers. Despite praise and celebration during their lifetime, these women and their works are sucked out of history as though they never existed. Due to frantic and purposeful efforts, great composers like Marion Bauer, Carla Schumann, Elfrida Andrée, and Lousie Farrenc are receiving a second look at their works. There is a desperate rush to archive, gather, and …

Feminism And The New Woman In The Gilbert & Sullivan Operas, Heather Dawn Zurcher

Theses and Dissertations

The operas by playwright W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan have been considered some of the most popular and successful pieces of musical theatre in the English language. While their joint creative output neared perfection, Gilbert and Sullivan's working relationship was fraught with conflict. The two men's opposing personalities led them to favor disparate styles and work towards different goals. However, the ability to balance contrasting tones, such as sarcasm and sympathy, resulted in their overwhelming success. I analyze this "winning formula" by looking at the influence of feminism, especially the "New Woman" literary movement, on the works of …

Schumann's Op. 25: Finding The Narrative Within, Renee Danielle Gaarder

Theses and Dissertations

Many of the song cycles written by Schumann have been studied over the years and it is well known that his most prolific time of song production was the year 1840. Myrthen, Op. 25, has been studied less than some of his other cycles because it calls into question the modern view of the song cycle and for this reason is difficult to classify. What is most difficult about the classification of Op. 25 is that there is no immediately apparent narrative. In addition, the musical relationships which exist are usually considered to be of little consequence. What scholars …

Aspects Of Compositional Process In Luciano Berio's Circles, Charles Hamilton Stratford

Theses and Dissertations

Luciano Berio (1925-2003) was one of the most innovative composers of vocal music in the European avant-garde. His composition for female voice, Circles (1960), marks an important stage in his collaboration with his wife, singer Cathy Berberian (1925-1983). Berio was attracted to Berberian's exceptional talents as a performer, and their work together created new avenues of expression for the solo voice, as Berio explored the relationship between music and language. Drawing upon archival documents, this thesis is a study of the materials and methods that make Circles one of Berio's pivotal works for voice. My interpretation of these sources engages …

Examining The Origins Of The Late Baroque Monothematic Fugue:A Study Of Seventeenth-Century Fugue In Italian Violin Music, Clemence Theodora Destribois

Theses and Dissertations

Paul M. Walker points out the importance of three seventeenth-century manuscripts which, according to him, reflect the origins of the late Baroque monothematic fugue. The documents present a new "model" with specific criteria to write monothematic fugues. Walker suggests that the criteria presented in these manuscripts are first found in seventeenth-century Italian violin ensemble fugues. This thesis traces the development of seventeenth-century monothematic fugues and how they compare with the criteria presented in the manuscripts, with a particular emphasis on Italian violin ensemble fugues. The manuscripts indeed present a new "model" to write monothematic fugues as compared to earlier models. …

Choral Intelligibility When Recording With An Orchestra: An Audio Engineer's Perspective, Michael F. Gates

Faculty Publications

From an audio engineer's perspective, producing a recording that features a choir and orchestra requires many careful considerations. It is reasonable to suggest that paramount to the final product is the intelligibility of the sung text. It is well known that the singer's formant, visible as a spectral peak around 3,000 Hz, assists a singer to be heard over an orchestra. Research indicates however that in choral singing this region is much lower in amplitude than in operatic singing. Because of many acoustic variables, the singing may well be masked and the text obscured. Critical listening analysis of recordings of …

The Effect Of Free Movement On Preschool Students' Preference For And Recognition Of Classical Music, Emilee Keith Knell

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted in order to examine two questions: 1) Does free movement while listening to classical music influence a preschooler's preference for the music?; and 2) Does free movement while listening to classical music influence a preschooler's ability to answer recognition questions relative to the music? Subjects (N = 34) were 4- to 5-year-old students from two intact classrooms at the BYU Child and Family Studies Laboratory Preschool. After being involved in six lessons utilizing two different classical pieces, each identified by a prominent instrument and experienced either Actively (with free movement) or Passively (while sitting or lying …

Concerto For Violoncello And Orchestra, Op. 27 By Paul Wranitzky: A Critical Edition, Sharon Meilstrup

Theses and Dissertations

The Czech composer Paul Wranitzky (1756–1808) worked primarily in Vienna during the height of musical Classicism. He was well-respected among the higher artistic circles during his day as a composer, violinist, and conductor. His excellence in conducting was recognized by Haydn and Beethoven. His compositions were favored by Empress Marie Therese. Despite his contemporary fame and esteem, his works are relatively unknown today. His works are being revived today, bringing these once popular compositions back to the public. This thesis presents a critical edition of Wranitzky's cello concerto in C Major, appearing for the first time in a scholarly edition. …

Fedra Ed Hippolito By Francesco Vannarelli: A Critical Edition, Daniel T. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

The biography of the Italian composer Francesco Vannarelli (c.1616–1679) is limited to a series of places and dates listed in scattered documents throughout the peninsula. Generally known only by the motets included in contemporary anthologies, Vannarelli worked nearly exclusively for the church. This thesis briefly chronicles Vannarelli's life and adds previously undocumented music to the list of his known works. Fedra ed Hippolito, Vannarelli's only known complete opera, follows the tragicommedia tradition of Rome in the 17th century and represents the first setting of the Phaedra myth in opera. This thesis makes Fedra ed Hippolito available for the first …

The Classical Guitar: A Brief History And Introduction To The 20th Century, Curtis N. Smith

Library Research Grants

No abstract provided.

John Zorn. The Gift; Songs From The Hermetic Theatre (2001). Chimeras; Masada Guitars (2003). Masada Recital; Magick (2004). Rituals (2005). Astronome; Masada Rock; Moonchild, Christian T. Asplund

Faculty Publications

Once the unruly upstart, John Zorn is now a MacArthur fellow, whose formidable catalog divides easily into early, middle, and late periods. The early period dates from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, when Zorn pioneered the practice of "comprovisation," a term used to describe "the making of new compositions from recordings of improvised material." Ultimately, Zorn's comprovisation blurs the lines between active listener and composer, since both create new works when they impose structure on found sonic material. His early structuralist-modernist approach to comprovisation produced esoteric, often severely pointillist music, and evolved into the game pieces of the late 1970s …

Objective Test Methods For Waveguide Audio Synthesis, Steven Gregory Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Acoustic Physical Modeling has emerged as a newer musical synthesis technique. The most common form of physical modeling synthesis in both industry and academia is digital waveguide synthesis. Commercially available for the past thirteen years, the top synthesizer manufacturers have chosen to include physical modeling synthesis in their top of the line models. In the area of audio quality testing, the most common tests have traditionally been group listening tests. While these tests are subjective and can be expensive and time-consuming, the results are validated by the groups' proper quality standards. Research has been conducted to evaluate objective testing procedures …

Vilma Weber Von Webenau : Die Marienlieder, Sommerlieder Für Streichquartett Und Eine Sprechstimme, Carolyn Dehdari

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Vilma von Webenau (1875-1953) is not only worthy of study because of her connection with teacher Arnold Schoenberg. Her music is unique in the era of fin-de-siecle Vienna, but it also holds interest today because of its atmoshpheric and durational complexity, self-composed texts, and harmonic ambiguities. This critical edition seeks not only to present two of WEbenau's seventy works, but also to place Webenau in her historical and musical context. Exploring the aspects of Viennese modernism and the world that created it, I wish to give background to Webenau's life, of which so little is known. In trying to understand …

A Voice For Modernism In Elsa Bienenfeld's Music Reviews, Kelsey Draper

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis discusses Elsa Bienenfeld’s role as a modern music critic and cultural journalist and shows how she defended modernism by encouraging her Viennese readers to embrace it. The purpose is not to create a mere biographical sketch, but to demonstrate how Bienenfeld shaped and influenced the public’s perceptions of the budding modern music movement in Vienna. Chapter 1 introduces the problem of modern music and provides the historical context for Elsa Bienenfeld’s life. Chapter 2 introduces modermism as a movement in the city and reviews the development of music out of the classical and romantic periods into modernism. Chapter …

Help!: An Annotated Bibliography Of Resources For The Beginning Choral Conductor, Bonnie Marie Ashby

Theses and Dissertations

This bibliography is intended as a resource for choral conductors at the beginning of their journey of musical and personal development. While this project cannot possibly cover every aspect of or resource on choral music, it is a beginning. I admit I have spent more time researching my personal weaknesses and have not covered as thoroughly areas in which the choral conducting program at Brigham Young University is exceptionally strong. Even so, I hope this compilation will help address common challenges of beginning choral conductors.

The bibliography is divided into sections by topic, with additional sections on Internet sites and …

The Symphony In America: Maurice Abravanel, And The Utah Symphony Orchestra: The Battle For Classical Music, Alex D. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Between 1947 and 1979 the Utah Symphony Orchestra was transformed from an obscure, part-time, amateur orchestra into one of the major symphony orchestras in America. By 1947 the orchestra, which had begun as a Works Progress Administration organization, was barely hanging on. The symphony struggled to remain financially solvent, performing only a few concerts per year. Thirty-two years later the Utah Symphony Orchestra was one of the most prestigious musical ensembles in the country— receiving rave reviews from critics around the world, touring extensively, and with more than a hundred albums to its credit. The remarkable growth of the Utah …

A Body Without Organs: Three Approaches- Cage, Bach, And Messiaen, Christian T. Asplund

Faculty Publications

Allow me to posit a traditional four-part division of the self into the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical/sensual. This may be further simplified to a two-part division, one being the spiritual and the other being a trio of the other selves which collectively may be termed the natural self. Sacred activity in this context would be an effort to achieve communion between the spiritual self and other spiritual entities. Such communion would be, in fact, the self's highest goal and, ultimately, the only one worth all its efforts. True communion with other beings is only possible on this spiritual level, …

The Sound Of Utah: The Presence Of Geographical Elements In Music Written About The State Of Utah, Kamia Walton Holt

Theses and Dissertations

Music is a by-product of place and time. Musicians have opportunities to use the idea of place in their music. Thus, music has regionally distinctive characteristics which reflect human perceptions of the physical environment. Artists of the past and present focus on geographical themes, and paint a picture of ‘place’ in their music. This thesis focuses on the music of a geographical location: Utah. Musicians wrote of Utah in hymns of the past, and contemporary musicians continue to write music about Utah. This thesis answers the questions: Is music characterized by geography? How have the local musicians been influenced by …

A Mormon Cultural Study Of Musical Preference, Alden L. Weight

Theses and Dissertations

Music is an important yet relatively unnoticed part of the everyday world almost all of us take for granted. Whether in the car, watching television, shopping, at work or at home, even waking up in the morning or going to sleep at night, and so forth, music surrounds us, soothes us, disturbs us, and occasionally goes so far as to persuade us. Although music plays a significant role in many areas of life, its relationship to society is especially evident in the religious sphere. Therefore, the religious sphere is an ideal place to examine what music does and what it …

Frederic Rzewski And Spontaneous Political Music, Christian T. Asplund

Faculty Publications

I am intrigued by Frederic Rzewski's ability, in his pieces from the 1960s and 70s, to model socio-political phenomena and to teach specific lessons about these phenomena on both intuitive and intellectual levels to both performers and listeners. Performers in particular will literally experience these socio-political phenomena in the course of performing these pieces. Rzewski seems to have achieved Brecht's ideal of a gestic music without dryness or lack of credibility.